Context/objectives This is the first study to determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN twenty-item scale (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20), a validated instrument designed to elicit cancer patients' experience of symptoms and functional limitations related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Methods Cancer patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy completed EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity [FACT/GOG-NTX] at baseline, second cycle of chemotherapy (T2, n = 287), and 12 months after chemotherapy (T3, n = 191). Anchor-based approach used the validated FACT/GOG-NTX neurotoxicity (Ntx) subscale to identify optimal MCID cutoff for deterioration. Distribution-based approach used one-third standard deviation (SD), half SD, and one standard error of measurement of the total EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 score. Results There was a moderate correlation between the change scores of the Ntx subscale and sensory and motor subscales of QLQ-CIPN20 (T2: r = − 0.722, p < 0.001 and r = − 0.518, p < 0.001, respectively; T3: r = − 0.699; p < 0.001 and r = − 0.523, p < 0.001, respectively). The correlation between the change scores of the Ntx subscale and the QLQ-CIPN20 autonomic subscale was poor (T2: r = − 0.354, p < 0.001; T3: r = 0.286, p < 0.001). Based on the MCID derived using distribution-based method, the MCID for the QLQ-CIPN20 sensory subscale was 2.5-5.9 (6.9% to 16.4% of the subdomain score) and for motor subscale was 2.6-5.0 (8.1%-15.6% of the subdomain score). Conclusion The MCID for the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 established using distribution-based approaches was 2.5-5.9 for the sensory subscale and 2.6-5.0 for the motor subscale. When noted in assessments even with small change in scores, clinicians can be alerted for appropriate intervention.

To cite this article: Lai YF, Cheen MHH, Lim SH, Yeo FHI, Nah SC, Kong MC, Mya D, Lee LH, Ng HJ . The effects of fasting in Muslim patients taking warfarin. J Thromb Haemost 2014; 12: 349-54.Summary. Background: Anticoagulation with warfarin is influenced by dietary changes but the effect of fasting on warfarin therapy is unknown. Objectives: To study changes in international normalized ratio (INR) and the percentage of time within therapeutic range (%TTR) before, during and after the Muslim fasting month (Ramadan) in stable warfarinised Muslim patients. Methods/Patients: In this prospective study, weekly INR readings were taken at home visits from participating patients during three study periods: before, during and after Ramadan. Readings were blinded to patients and their primary physicians except for when pre-set study endpoints were reached. Results: Among 32 participating patients, mean INR increased by 0.23 (P = 0.006) during Ramadan from the pre-Ramadan month and decreased by 0.28 (P < 0.001) after Ramadan. There was no significant difference (P = 1.000) in mean INR between the non-Ramadan months. %TTR declined from 80.99% before Ramadan to 69.56% during Ramadan (P = 0.453). The first out-of-range INR was seen around 12.1 days (95% CI, 9.0-15.1) after the start of fasting and returned to range at about 10.8 days (95% CI, 7.9-13.7) after Ramadan. Time above range increased from 10.80% pre-Ramadan to 29.87% during Ramadan (P = 0.027), while time below range increased from 0.57% during Ramadan to 15.49% post-Ramadan (P = 0.006). No bleeding or thrombotic events were recorded. Conclusions: Fasting significantly increases the mean INR of medically stable patients taking warfarin and the likelihood of having an INR above therapeutic targets. For patients maintained at the higher end of INR target ranges or at increased risk of bleeding, closer monitoring or dosage adjustment may be necessary during fasting.

<b><i>Aims:</i></b> Glomerulonephritis is one of the leading causes of progressive chronic kidney disease worldwide and treatment requires shared decision-making to improve self-care and plan immunosuppressant therapy. However, information on health literacy (HL) in patients with glomerulonephritis is scanty. We aimed to assess HL in our multiethnic population with glomerulonephritis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Single-center cross-sectional study of patients with glomerulonephritis receiving induction immunosuppressants at the ambulatory nephrology clinic and who completed the anonymized self-administered HLS-EU-47 questionnaire. The standardized HL index and domain item mean scores were compared with participant sociodemographic characteristics. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Among 65 patients who attend the clinics over a month, 27 agreed to participate in the survey. After excluding responses with significant missing information, we included 23 participants (16 Chinese, 4 Malay, 2 Indian, and 1 other ethnicity) in the analysis. The median age was 39 (interquartile range 27, 60 years). The median general HL index was 26.2 (19.8, 29.8). The item mean scores were 2.64 (2.43, 2.77), 2.45 (2.09, 2.72), 2.33 (2.17, 2.58), and 2.50 (2.25, 2.75) for the domains of accessing, understanding, appraising, and applying health-care-related information, respectively. Male patients had significantly higher HL indices and higher scores for accessing and appraising health information, while higher personal income was significantly associated with higher score for applying health knowledge. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Patients with glomerulonephritis had lowest HL in the domain of appraising health information. Further research on targeted interventions to improve the HL in appraising treatment options and vaccinations in patients with glomerulonephritis is required.

Aims: Shared decision-making regarding COVID-19 vaccination in IgA nephropathy involves the ability to handle health information regarding potential benefits and risk of flare, but few studies have evaluated health literacy in the context of vaccination. We aimed to evaluate the health literacy and COVID-19 vaccination uptake and acceptance in IgA nephropathy. Methods: Single-center cross-sectional study of 126 consecutive patients with IgA nephropathy. Health literacy was assessed using the HLS-EU-47 questionnaire. Determinants of vaccine acceptance such as contextual influences, individual and group influences, and vaccine-specific issues were adapted from the World Health Organization framework. Results: Forty-eight patients (38.1%) with IgAN nephropathy completed the survey between June and August 2021. The participants’ median age was 40.5 (31.6, 52.8) years with median disease duration of 2.8 (1.3, 4.3) years. The median general health literacy index was 31.74 (29.88, 35.82) with significantly greater difficulty in the competency of appraising health information and in the domain of disease prevention (p<0.001). Forty-five patients (93.8%) received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine between January and August 2021. Among the 3 unvaccinated patients, 2 intended to receive the vaccination while and 1 did not intend to get vaccinated. There was a high level of trust and belief that their government and healthcare providers had their best interests at heart and that the healthcare providers were honest about the vaccine’s risk and benefits, although 31.2% did not understand how the vaccine works and 22.9% believed that there were other ways to prevent infection. Most thought there was adequate safety information, were confident in the system for tracking adverse events and had no issues with access to the vaccine. Conclusion: Participants with IgA nephropathy had high health literacy scores and low vaccine hesitancy. The determinants for vaccine acceptance can guide efforts to optimize vaccination coverage.

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